Ever-dependable LRK RECORDS are lining up a sweet, new single on veteran blued eyed soul singer, CHARLIE INGUI. Some might know that Charlie was a founder member (with his brother Richie) , of the Soul Survivors band who were active in the 60s (hence “veteran”!). Philly fans will know that the Soul Survivors worked closely with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Indeed the band’s 1967 cut ‘Expressway To Your Heart’ is generally accepted as the first hit for the G&H team!
For the anoraks… ‘Expressway’ reached number 3 on the R&B chart, spent 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over one million copies! And the bio – Charlie and Richie grew up in the Lower East Side of New York and were part of the same music scene as The (Young) Rascals, Joey Dee and the Starlighters, Vanilla Fudge, and other blue eyed soul bands that paved the way for groups like Hall and Oates. Now you know!
The upcoming LRK release is ‘Wake Up Old Wolrd’ which, we believe, is a new(ish) song that appeared on a Charlie Ingui album, ‘Love’s Direction’ last year. It was available via Bandcamp and the ever vigilant LRK team have picked it up. Easy to hear why. It’s a gentle, melodic blue-eyed soul affair with that currently popular retro sound. Of the song, Charlie says: “This has always been a theme in our songs inspired very much by our collaboration with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff of Philadelphia International Records whose songs like “Love Train” and “Love Is The Message” had a positive and spiritually uplifting message.”. It’s a good ‘un and comes recommended!
CHARLIE INGUI: ‘Wake Up Old World’ will be released digitally via LRK on February 23rd. We’re told that there’s vinyl on the way too with the B side, maybe, coming from that Love’s Direction’ album.?
